If there was a theme at this year’s show, it was one of consolidation and familiarisation with existing equipment and some new arrivals offering improved portability. OCTs are an ever-evolving feature of trade shows and so I will review these separately (see next week).
Also notable was an increase in both the number and quality of imported versions of existing instruments, many from the Far East, along with the presence of companies such as Essilor in the instrument market, with their affordable range of some familiar equipment, side-by-side with new glazing machinery (the new Delta 2 with its user-friendly touch screen was launched – Figure 1).
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Imaging
Retinal imaging with a non-mydriatic digital system has been somewhat overshadowed by the rise of the OCT but it is still the way most of us capture retinal images and so the launch of the new Canon CR-2 AF at the Carleton stand was of interest (Figure 2).
Autofocus and high resolution (the unit captures at 20.2 megapixels) within a compact instrument is expected nowadays, but the ease with which the instrument offers anterior photography, infra-red meibography and stereo pairing of images is worth looking at.
Grafton were offering another look at their Visionix Vx120, notable for its combination of autorefraction, topography, pupillometry and pachymetry among the seven functions offered again in a unit so compact that anyone replacing outmoded individual items might secure a major gain in practice space. Figure 3 shows an anterior chamber image taken with the unit.
The new Centervue Compass (Figure 4) was on display with Haag Streit. The unit combines SLO imaging with both microperimetry and standard automated perimetry (24-2 and 10-2) allowing excellent assessment of both structure and function along with some glaucoma-specific algorithms – all easily operated via a natty digital joystick.
Watch out for a full review in the coming weeks. Established SLO units were much in evidence with Optos encouraging visitors to take 200 degree wide-field images on undilated passers-by. When will wide-field SLO assessment become accepted by the diabetic retinal screening brigade?
Portability
Domiciliary has been the next big thing for some time but I think demographics are finally forcing the issue. Mainline has some nice kit here, and we have already written about the hi-tech VisionFit refraction unit (Optician 11.03.16, Figure 5) and the Ocusweep fields machine. I hope to put it through its paces soon (Figure 6).
BIB is releasing instruments at both ends of the market, with a new OCT alongside some interesting low cost refraction units. The EyeNetra range includes a useful smartphone adaptor for use as a focimeter (Figure 7) and a mini manual phoropter head unit (Figure 8). Both have their limits but the focimeter gadget, though unable to measure prism, would make a useful replacement for the ever-cumbersome existing portable focimeters.
Hand-held cameras with sufficient ease of use and quality of image are surprisingly difficult to make it seems, so I am keen to try out the new Nidek VersaCam launched by Birmingham Optical Group (Figure 9) on both counts, as well as checking its robustness – a classic failing in previous cameras of this type.
Test charts
Thomson Software display stands always remind me of gaming exhibitions and the goodly Professor Thomson never fails to launch a new gadget or two. This year, however, he was keen to show the new version of a familiar and well-loved computerised test chart system, now to be known as the Test Chart 2016.
In his words, ‘the software has a fresh new look and feel but retains most of the features and key presses etc, so it should be straightforward to move to the new version.’ Thomson has added some new optotypes (new Kay pictures, new numbers plus Gujarati, Punjabi, Arabic and Hebrew) and a load of new binocular vision tests which exploit the polarised monitor and, he said, has much improved the near vision test interface linked to a tablet. See Figures 10 a to c.
Therapeutics
A quick mention here for the BlephEx lid treatment system (Figure 11) distributed by Scope and which anyone considering setting up a dry eye and lid management clinic should add to their armoury. I used the unit some time ago and found, for persistent blepharitis, its abrading of the inflamed tissues was easy and effective.
Intraocular pressure
Keeler was present with its own stand but increasingly supplies others as well. The company’s new disposable tonometer head, the Keeler Tonomate (Figure 12), has a frosted body and good reproducibility and I hope to show this in a forthcoming article.
The drive to include corneal mechanical properties in any IOP measurement dependent on corneal deformation (which is pretty well all methods on living patients!) has led to a dramatic increase in pachymeter use, especially north of the border.
However, increasing numbers of studies point to the influence of corneal hysteresis and the ease with which the Reichert Ocular Response Analyser G3 (Figure 13) captures a standard non-contact and a corneal compensated IOP value should attract the attention of those in charge of referral protocols. I am sure this is something we will hear more of in the coming years.
Media
Finally, not quite instrumentation per se, but the new Captiv8+ software from Optimed (shown off in Figure 14 by Dr Trusit Dave) is perhaps the best way to let the public know about the services you offer, having invested in the latest instrumentation.
Optrafair OCT round-up in next week’s Optician